Thursday, December 30, 2010

A Stanford source told me today: "If Andrew Luck had to make his decision today as to whether he would stay or go to the NFL, he'd say he was staying in school."

The source -- who is heavily involved with the Stanford football program and sees Luck every day -- said that statement doesn't mean that Luck has ruled out declaring himself eligible for the 2011 NFL draft. But the source said he "knew" Luck was leaning toward staying at this moment, as the redshirt sophomore quarterback prepares for Monday's Orange Bowl showdown with Virginia Tech.

"A lot can happen between now and Jan.15th," said the source, referring to the date underclassmen must declare themselves eligible. "There will be a lot of conversations still to come. And whenever he goes pro, he will be a fantastic NFL quarterback. But this is a kid who truly enjoys college."

The source continued: "For a lot of guys who declare early, it's partly because the schoolwork is such a grind for them. It's not that way for Andrew."

Luck, a co-valedictorian of his high school class in Houston, Texas, has a grade-point average of over 3.0 at Stanford while majoring in architectural design.

Of course, you could argue that anyone involved with Stanford has such a vested interest in Luck staying that they may see what they want to see, not what is ultimately there. Luck has made no indication of his future plans here in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and is not available to the media today. Luck will have a press conference Friday that I will cover and post something about by Friday no later than 11:30 a.m.

I'm in south Florida covering the Orange Bowl and Luck this week for The Charlotte Observer and will update this blog every day with news about Luck, Virginia Tech and whatever else is interesting through next Tuesday.

My first story for the newspaper about this Orange Bowl will appear Friday. My extensive story on Luck (who would likely be the Carolina Panthers' choice with the No.1 draft pick if he comes out early) will appear in Sunday's Charlotte Observer and online.

Wouldn't you want to stay in school and earn a degree from Stanford than work for some cheap ass owner that only cares about his own bank account.

I know I would stay.

You couldn't pay me enough to play behind that Panther offensive line. Don't let me forget to mention all of those veteran receivers the Panther's have on their roster.

One player isn't going to turn this organization over night.

The panthers would be better off relieving Marty Hurney (GM) and Don Gregory (Director of College Scouting) of their duties and bringing in a whole new front office composed of individuals who have been to the big dance and have actually won it it (Super Bowl) in my opinion.

I have to agree with JB. If my option was to stay at Stanford or play for the Panthers, I'd be happy to hang out in California for another year.

The only things the Panthers have working for them with regards to landing Luck are that Harbaugh probably isn't returning, and I'd be surprised if Luck wants to spend one year with a new coach and his system. Also, if the Panthers miraculously sign Harbaugh as their new HC, that will certainly play into Luck's consideration, knowing that he would get to continue that player-coach relationship with Harbaugh at Carolina.

so all of you would give up millions of dollars to stay in school with a pending lock out, that once completed would decrease you siging bonus a year later by 20% or more. yeah i bet you would stay in school. panthers or not, he is a guaranteed number 1 pick, he would be stupid not leave.

Stupid 'not' to leave....None of us have a crystal ball, but I believe that I'd be 'stupid' and try for the Heisman before I'd risk life and limb in the NFL for an owner who doesn't seem much interested in supplying a supporting cast. Feeling like I'd be 'lucky' (pun intended) to survive 5 games behind this OL, a Stanford degree sounds pretty good.

The athletes that we are talking about are very competitive. They all want to WIN! That's why they play.

Let's look at Andre Johnson for a minute. He's a great player on a shitty team. He's made millions over the years but He's now at a time in his career where he would probably trade all of those millions to get into the playoffs and have a chance to win a Super Bowl.

It's easy to SAY that you would trade the millions for a championship, once you HAVE the millions and no one can take them away from you!

That is just talk and you know it.

Same rationale for trying for the Heisman before you "risk life and limb" in the NFL---there is an equal risk of injury of playing another year in college, and in the NFL you are (if you are a #1 pick) being paid MILLIONS of GAURANTEED dollars to do it, rather than free tuition, books, and food.

I'm all for staying in school if you want the degree and/or enjoy it, but these rationales in the comments are just ludicrous and have no basis on reality.

On May 19, 1935, the NFL club owners approved a plan devised by future Commissioner Bert Bell. The idea called for a draft whereby the weaker teams would have the first choice at top college prospects. The teams would draft in reverse order of their finish with the league champions from the previous season picking last.

The first NFL draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on Feb. 8, 1936. Since that time, there has been a college draft held every year resulting in a competitively balanced league.

The first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago, was the first player ever taken in an NFL draft.

The Eagles selected the halfback but traded his rights to the Bears. Considering pro football wasn't a very lucrative career in 1936, Berwanger never played in the NFL.

One big difference...Stanford is at least a credible college team. It's one thing to have PAC 10 DL and LB's coming after you with a decent line in front than it is to have NFL defenders coming at you with a bad OL in front. Don't really know what I'd do...it's not a decision I will ever have to worry about, but instead of the prospect of a very short NFL career with a bad team, a Stanford degree, posible Heisman and maybe a better deal with a better team and a better owner down the road....worth consideration.

The bottom line isn't about Luck. It's the fact that we are letting a damned good head coach leave and keeping a mediocre at best GM. Only because he is Jerry's buddy. Bass Ackwards as far as I'm concerned.

Its obvious none of you guys know ANYTHING about the Panthers or their "league reputation". The organization is well-respected around the league, as is Jerry Richardson. He also is ANYTHING but cheap. Look back over the last 15 years, if anything he has overspent on many players. He set his team up this year for the pending labor situation and its aftermath. The Panthers will soon have lots of $$$ to spend and they will do so.

Here's the deal on Luck ,after the bowl game when Harbaugh starts taking interviews REALITY will set in he will come out...What's he gonna do play 1 more year in college ,risk injury ,learn another offense ,because Harbaugh will take his coaching staff with him for the most part ,take a risk of a bad year like Jake Locker and his stock falls which will cost him money ,and a rookie cap next year. So yeah he'll come out 100% GONE!

I just hear Adam Schefter on espn radio from today.He said he expect Jim harbaugh to either go to Michigan.Or to anther team in the NFL but not the 49ers.he also said that ones harbaugh leave then he expect Andrew Luck to declare for the Draft

To everyone saying he doesn't want to play for a bad team, guess what--when you're the best player in the draft, you end up on the worst team from the year before. Then you have a chance to make that team better. Just like History Lesson said. If it's not the Panthers this year, it will be Cleveland or Cincinnati next year. That's just the way the league is set up.

If Andrew Luck truly has any sense, he will stay in college, finish his education, and then worry about playing professional football. He has his entire life to be a quarterback but only a small window of time to still be a kid without the hassles and pressures of being the "flavor of the month" in the quarterback pool.

It is all dependent on what Harbaugh does. Personally, I think the Panthers need to throw out $4-$5 million for Harbaugh and Luck will follow for sure. However, if Harbaugh leaves for another program or another NFL team, it would be stupid for Luck to stay with a new coaching staff. He's not going to improve his draft status. All he's going to do is risk injury and fall in the draft. As for the idiots on here that say he doesn't want to play for a bad team or the Panthers, that's just stupid. He's going to play for a bad team regardless. If that really was the reason, he could declare, tell hte Panthers he's not playing for them, demand a trade to a team he wants, and be done with it.

Let's just hope we get a packaged deal and he comes out. If not, I hope he tears his ACL or shoulder next year! HA!

Let's be 100% honest...when you are the 1st pick in the draft...you are headed to a poor team.

But here is a guy that looks at the Carolina Panthers and the money he will command as the 1st pick and says "I would rather wait and take my chances. I am intelligent enough to hang at Stanford and that team is so poorly run, so pathetic, so lousy...why would I want to come out early and play for them."

Besides Panther fans...after next year, this sorry excuse for an NFL team WILL BE PICKING FIRST AGAIN NEXT YEAR!!!!

You may get ANOTHER chance to get Luck since you have the worst team in the league and THE WORST GM IN THE LEAGUE making your picks!

The bonus money that Andrew Luck would make from signing that first deal with us would make him and his kids kids kids independently wealthy. Combine that fact with the rumors that Harbaugh is leaving Stanford, and I think we're in good shape.

Don't forget, people, that these prospects still have to go through the rigors of NFL scouting. At this time last year, there were pundits who said Jimmy Clausen could be the top pick.

A couple of comments. I couldn't say if Luck is the best choice for the Panthers or not, but you'd have to believe he sees his future as a pro football player - not an architect. For that reason, I believe he will make a football decision: If Harbaugh leaves, Luck leaves. And with that, the Panthers have instant value whether they keep or shop the pick.

Second, for those insisting that the Panthers have a terrible team, I disagree. There's a lot of talent on this team. Outside of whatever went wrong with the passing game this year, they're just a few non-skill players away (a decent RG, and a penetrating DT) from the rest of the team being very solid. Remember, they get Otah, Wharton and Davis back. The next coaching staff will have inherited a year's experience in the rookie skill positions, and will probably be offensively more inventive. They'll improve significantly with or without Luck.

Lynne Stevenson, as beautiful as those maternal instincts are, Luck has to worry about his economic future as well. When you get opportunities like this - especially when you're a quarterback - you have to seize them. Sell high. If after three years in college, someone offered me a job to do what I love to do at a salary in excess of $10M a year...yea, I'd take the deal.

Ricardson needs to throw himself at Harbaugh as the head coach. Whether Harbaugh comes to Carolina or not, we need Harbaugh out of Stanford to push Luck out of Stanford in to Carolina.

If other teams see we are interested in Harbaugh, Harbaugh is going to get even more interest since Michigan seems to be drooling over the prospect of bringing Harbaugh in and other NFL teams are considering him as well. I am sure that some other team will offer him a job even if he doesn't accept or isn't offered the job in Carolina.

I believe that the reason Luck us leaning toward staying in School. It Has nothing to do nothing to do with not wanting to play for the Panthers. However, it has much more to do with Jim Harbaugh Still coaching at Stanford. Luck and Harbaugh are close to one anther. If after the Orange Bowl Harbaugh will let everyone know that he is either going to Michigan, or that he is going to take a job at the NFL. Luck will not come back to school. The only way l return to Stanford is if Harbaugh stay.

For all of you who believe he will stay because he doesn't want to play for the "suckholes" remember the #1 pick always ends up w/ a poor team. Look at who Carolina was competing w/ for the #1 pick...Actually of the lot Richardson and Carolina are viewed as a decent place to land in the NFL, if the $$$ is right.

If he does not leave Stanford, lets hope that it is because he truly loves college, as the "source" says. If he stays in college because he does not want to play for the Panthers, I would guess that his odds of "accomplishing" anything considerable next year or a better team selecting him in next years draft are not as good as the Panthers sucking again and having the top pick two years in a row.

If he does not leave Stanford, lets hope that it is because he truly loves college, as the "source" says. If he stays in college because he does not want to play for the Panthers, I would guess that his odds of "accomplishing" anything considerable next year or a better team selecting him in next years draft are not as good as the Panthers sucking again and having the top pick two years in a row.

Anyone saying he should stay in school is a complete and total ignoramus.

A main issue of the NFL's CBA to be negotiated at the end of this season is rookie salaries, um the fact that top draft pick college players who have never played a down in the NFL get 50 million dollars in guaranteed money. Going out on a limb here, but that is probably going to change with the next CBA, so the money a top pick got before 2010, will drastically change for the worse.

Luck's father even stated in an interview during West Virginia's bowl game that the CBA would have alot to do with his decision to stay or go.

You pay for a lot of college credits with the money a #1 draft pick will get this year, a lot fewer credit with what they'll get paid after the NFL contract reduces what rookies will be paid.On the other side, NCAA rules allow for insurance should he be injured in college

If he wants to play in the NFL, he should declare. He only needs to look to last year, and Jake Locker to see what staying an extra year can do. Locker was rated above Bradford, but decided to stay in school. He's now projected late first, early 2nd round.

Has Luck considered: 1) The potential of a rookie cap?2) The potential of an injury during college that could affect his draft status?3) Whether the team could be better next year if the coach leaves for another team?

All of these leaks by "sources" are just to get a rise out of readers and fans. What else is Luck going to say a week before his team plays their bowl game? Its not like he's a db or de, he's the QB, what kind of leader would he be if he started saying he was leaving? IF Harbaugh leaves, Luck is gone. You can always go back to school, there is no guarantee that you will be #1 pick next year, or even alive. Take the loot and be richest student on Stanford campus next summer.

Some of you guys are ridiculous with your pessimism of the Panthers and J Rich. J Rich has been an excellent owner and has been extremely well liked by players and staff (see last year after his heart surgery). He has continually put together a solid team (3 NFC Champs games and a SB in 15 years). We need some better QB play, Clausen is a joke and we need a creative coach who allows the OC to make more imaginative play calls. Spending some of the $19 mil we didn't spend on Pep ($12 mil more than he is worth) to help retool our o line and D line some should make us a solid team again. We have excellent RB's, a decent young receiver corps, and with Wharton back an ok o line. The line did an outstanding job of run blocking in the second half of the season, pass protection wasn't great but a lot of that is Clausen standing in the back of the pocket with no idea of blitz schemes or how to adjust (this must have been his first year of football).

Don't feel like logging on...i'm Neu. whoever said someone would trade millions of dollars to make it to the playoffs must be a billionaire. 90% percent of players who have superbowl rings would sale them for a couple million dollars. Maybe someone could answer this question for me. If the Labor union and NFL came to an agreement this year would the rookie scale kick in for 2011 or 2012. If it kicks in 2012 and he stays in school to earn significantly less, then yeah he wouldn't be as smart as some say that he is.

Look folks, Harbaugh will be gone. Most of his offensive line will be gone too. If he waits a year, getting the LAST big dollar payout to #1 pick will be gone. On top of that, his folks are not far from Charlotte, so they'll be able to watch him play. He will not have ANY competition at the #1 QB spot.

Andrew Luck will be our #1 pick. He will be the single biggest signee since the team existed. (bigger than Jooyus)

We will get an aggressive minded young coach, and in 2-3 years will own this damn division.

-- and by the way... for all you JR haters. Are you going to hate him next year when we wake up and have the 2nd most cap space in the league because he was smart enough to dump all our bad contracts in an uncapped year? ---

I don't see Luck staying at Stanford another year under a new coaching scheme and new OL. I also don't see any attraction to stay in school and see Buffalo, Cinncinati, Cleaveland or another bottom feeder get the 1st pick next year. I think the Panthers are a few FA and good picks away from being very competitive again.

You have NO TEAM. You want the worst GM in football to draft ANOTHER quarterback!

Where is this one gonna play...defensive end?

You have Clausen.

You have Pike.

You have Moore.

You have Edwards.

You have St. Pierre.

You have Knaul (or whatever his name is).

And now you want Luck.

This is why you will always be a group of losers. You have no one to stop the defenses from RIPPING LUCK'S head off!

Think Luck is not looking at the o-line here in Carolina and thinking "I am not that much better than Clausen and look how he has dropped off the face of the planet playing behind this group of paycheck suckers."

Luck is not broke like you bunch of waste of life.

He is at STANFORD. He does well at STANFORD.

That is not Clemson or UNCC. You have probably never heard of it. Think Duke with prettier girls and smarter students.

This guy doesn't come from nothing. He will make an intelligent decisions. Think Eli Manning has a ring and that useless redneck from NC State out in San Diego doesn't for no reason...

And any IDIOT that wants Cam Newton...LOL...are you intelligent enough to say JeMarcus Russell or Vince Young.

And Cam Newton is already a thief.

Maybe Cam's dad can come here and become the next GM since at least he knows how to actually negotiate!

It would serve Jerry Richardson right if Luck stayed in school! He took a team that was 12-4 two years out, and turned them into the "product" that we see today. Instead of fighting to keep some really decent players, JR chose to put all his marbles into the NFL/NFLPA fight. And in the process, he lost a whole team and a loyal fan base to boot!!!So, Jerry......how'd that work out for ya???!!! I think you're the most hated man in the Carolinas now! Just to save money.....WAY TO GO, JERRY!!!!! You should give this team back to your sons! At least they knew what they were doing and gave a crap!!!! YOU DON'T!!!!

Why will Luck stay in school if he is projected to go 1st? To avoid Panthers? I am sure he knows good teams don't get to pick 1st. The new agreement between players and teams might effect on how much he gets paid in 2012. Many veteran players have complained on how much the unproven rookies are getting while they busted their ass for many years for less money.

- Rookie pay scale might be on the horizon.- Don't take risks of getting injured for college game. I am sure your dream is to play Pro. -Ask players who played for the Panthers for true picture of the org; we have too many haters around.

Everyone says if they where Luck they would stay in school not to play for the Panthers because they are so bad. But correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the #1 pick go to the WORST team in the NFL every year?!?!!! So what makes you guys think that next years terrible team is going to be better than the Panthers who I think has a much better team than there record shows!!!

The moronic fanbase is out full force. Luck staying in school? When he could get paid at least 40 mil? How stupid does that sound to you? Suppose he stays for another year in college, gets injured. How much is he going to make with his degree from Stanford? Kevin H? Were you born retarded or did a mule kick you in the head? Your comment was the most ignorant i have read all day.

Scott, don't waste your time on that story about Luck, the best QB for Carolina is Cam Newton. But it appears that you and a bunch of the locos are drinking the Luck kool-aid. I just hope the owner and mgmt are smarter. "NFL ready" is a phrase that should be retired. It's worthlessness has already been documented too many times in the past. Try more substitution of the best player or winner. That would be Newton!

Do none of you that are saying you wouldn't come play for the Panthers because they stink realize that the team that gets the #1 pick is the one with the worst record? So if he comes out next year and hangs on to his billing as the number one guy (no certainty, look at Locker this year) suprisingly enough the team with the #1 pick is going stink, just like this year you morons.

If Luck is so great, why didn't he win the Heisman, or why is his team NOT playing for the National Championship.Truth be told, Luck is a product of the media. They pick and choose who they want to hype.Cam Newton is clearly the better quarterback. For the Panthers....learn from history Kerry Collins vs Steve McNair, who was more NFL ready??

If Luck is so great, why didn't he win the Heisman, or why is his team NOT playing for the National Championship.Truth be told, Luck is a product of the media. They pick and choose who they want to hype.Cam Newton is clearly the better quarterback. For the Panthers....learn from history Kerry Collins vs Steve McNair, who was more NFL ready??

Luck is a product of the "pocket passer happy hype" as the model for QB. Tom Brady is the exception and his skills weren't even discovered by all the so-called experts (at least not until the 6th round). If you missed it. The lesson learned is that there is not sure thing QB. That's why the game is played. and the game has change. We need pocket passer and mobile. Cam Newton is both. so Mr. R if you're listening, don't throw your checkbook at Harbaugh either, because there is no sure thing head coach either!

you're all motherf'ing idiots. you're obviously not panthers fans, and i'm guessing you're from charlotte if you're on this website. i will love the panthers if they lose every game or win the super bowl. doesn't matter. it's our team, and we should support them through thick and thin. psl owners who don't show up as a "protest against richardson" should give their psl's to people who actually give a f'ing damn. whether we get luck (clausen hasn't shown much at all, no matter how bad the team is) or bowers from clemson, i'll still be up in the 500 level cheering on MY PANTHERS. F the cowboys and redskins and anyone born in the carolinas who cheers for the steelers. F you all, you bandwagon douches

People forget Panthers reputation has gone down the tubes with players around the league and colleges, going to be tough to dig out from this mess Jerry has dug. Even the weather over the past 4 weeks makes this place somewhere to pass up. But a cheap owner out to get at the union does this team NO good. Just sell it Jerry and go gods waiting room in Florida

I don't get why people say he doesn't want to come out because he doesn't want to play for a bad team. If he gets drafted #1 he's gonna be drafted by the worst team in the league regardless of whether its for this season or the next. What's he gonna try and do, play his way out of the number 1 pick? He should take the money and come to Carolina

First, for all that keep saying the Panthers have a cheap owner and this is a cheap franchise... what team have you been following all these years. This one year is an abberation due to the CBA. Before that JR and the Panthers have spent money for players.

Second, for all that say Luck will stay in school because he the Panthers suck and who would want to play here, etc, etc. When has a team picking #1 every been good, with a good O-line?? Come on. Plus there are plenty other franchise that would be alot worse to end up than Carolina. If he stays in school its not because the Panthers are picking #1,,, its because college is fun as hell.

For people talking about waiting for a better team, remember the worst team gets the first pick. We may not be great all the time, but he could do a lot worse. And this is the first year that I've seen the panthers this cheap. They usually over pay players. I don't know if JR threw this season on purpose, but it sure worked out good for him. What can he offer a new coach. most of your players are under there rookie contracts (cheap). Veterans, bring them back if you like them if not let them walk as free agents. Plenty of cap space and, oh yeah, #1 draft pick.

Panther fans should be prepared for these San Fran morons to post all kinds of garbage about the Panthers their city and their fans because we are in the drivers seat as far as the Luck/Harbaugh thing goes. Keep wishing Bay Area and oh yeah keep your stories "straight" if you can... oops

The majority of you chumps just don't learn from your mistakes. The last month or so you have said it will be great if we get Luck. The chronic problem with that is atheletes, coaches, etc. around the country have never veiwed Charlotte the way you do. Now Luck may be waiting to see who emerges as coack for the Panthers, but for right now it sounds like he doesn't want to come here. You morons already disrespected great players like Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers. While Kobe Bryant just didn't want to play here and then we land THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME as a owner but yet I sense that he doesn't have the support that I know you can give him. I can't help but feel like if Jordan was a white man even with no star power things would be a little different. The Bobcats are trying hard to give you what you want as fans but nothing is good enough! Why?

I said over and over that Michael Vick could be a great quarterback with the right pieces around him. But the majority of the fans in Charlotte didn't want him. Look at what he's doing now. The guy came out and said he would like to come here, but he wasn't good enough for you. No franchise can win without an elite quarterback these days and he's definitely in the top 3. If Andrew Luck doesn't want to come here we can't miss out on Cam Newton. This is another chance to get a special quarterback. Yes his record isn't squeaky clean, but so what? This guy has an NFL arm and will be able to escape the pocket when protection breaks down. And like Vick with all of the ridicule he's faced he is going to come to whatever team that chooses him with a chip on his shoulder.

Luck has good reasons to come here, money, no competition at qb unless Moore decides to finally show up again, amazing running game, smith and two rookie receivers with 30+ receptions, no harbaugh (guessing), and some pro bowl o-line (i believe otah and kalil are very capable of making it). If he stays it's understandable. Stanford is #4 in the nation and he could go for the Heisman again. If he comes out then take him. If he doesn't then we can trade down and go for Fairley, Bowers, Green, or even Newton.

Why would any one want to come to this team. It's obvious the owner is not interested in anything more than mediocrity. Looking back, the 3 Fox teams that made the playoffs were just plain lucky, with a bit of talent. If I were Luck I'd stay in school another year, risk the money and maybe he goes to a team that really wants to build a winner. Or maybe Luck is waiting to see if/when they will be the "Los Angeles Panthers"